MOSCOW, February 20. /TASS/. The Kremlin is concerned about the worsening socio-economic situation in Ukraine against the background of Kiev’s reactionary policy, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists on Saturday.
"We regret that against the background of these reactionary and repressive actions the economic situation in Ukraine is rapidly worsening. The figures leave much to be desired," the Kremlin representative said.
He stated that Russia sees that Ukrainians are experiencing problems with a sharp snowballing surge in utilities prices. "Since we are talking about our neighbor, about our neighboring country, such a socio-economic situation together with the display of an internal reaction is subject of a serious concern," he concluded.
The Kremlin is also concerned about increasing reactionary trends in Ukrainian politics, Peskov said, commenting on Kiev’s sanctions against leader of Ukraine’s Opposition Platform - For Life party Viktor Medvedchuk and other individuals.
"This is very alarming news because we can see reactionary trends gaining momentum in Ukraine," Peskov pointed out.
On Friday, Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council imposed sanctions on Chairman of the Political Council of the Opposition Platform - For Life party Viktor Medvedchuk, who member of the Verkhovna Rada (parliament), and his wife Oksana Marchenko, as well as five Russian nationals. Apart from Medvechuk and Marchenko, the council’s sanctions cover another six individuals and 19 entities and target their property.
On Donbass
The Kremlin worries that the Ukrainian authorities may think again that it might be possible to handle the problems in the east of Ukraine from the position of strength, Peskov said.
"We can see repressive actions towards the mass media, Ukrainian citizens, and the country’s leading politicians," Peskov said. "Of course, this cannot but cause concern and prompt questions who chose this reactionary policy and won’t it result in a situation where the Ukrainian leadership may think again that it might be possible to handle the problem of the southeast [of the country] from the position of strength."
He stressed the Kremlin was well aware "as this reactionary trend gains strength and begins to dominate in the Ukrainian political scene, the situation along the engagement line turns ever more alarming."
"This causes our concern," he stressed.
Military assistance to Ukraine from the United States tempts hotheads in Kiev to conduct an aggressive policy towards Donbass, according to Peskov.
"They [the Americans] keep building up Ukraine’s military potential. Nobody threatens Ukraine. On the contrary, this tempts Ukraine’s hotheads, who are surely behind all this domestic repression, to display greater aggression, including aggression in handling the problems of the southeast," Peskov told the media.
He warned that this policy "contradicts everything and everybody and by no means promotes stability and predictability in the heart of Europe."
The United States, Peskov stressed, makes no secret of its firm intention to provide all-round assistance to Kiev in building up its offensive military potential.
"Such assistance continues to be delivered from the United States to Ukraine," Peskov said.
He avoided answering the question what countries were supportive of Donbass and supplied weapons there.
"I cannot add or specify anything. But it is obvious that if something is in demand for self-defense, supply will be always available," he concluded.